The Miracles of Prato (Paperback)

Indie Next List

March 2009Based on the true story of Fra Filippo Lippi's love for a young nun (whom he immortalized as the Madonna in many of his greatest works), this novel is beautifully evocative of Renaissance Italy, and I found the descriptions of the process of Lippi's artistry to be insightful and enlightening. A wonderful book to take on a journey to Tuscany. -- Jennie Turner-Collins, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cincinnati, OH

Description

Italy, 1456. The Renaissance is in glorious bloom. A Carmelite monk, the great artist Fra Filippo Lippi acts as chaplain to the nuns of the Convent Santa Margherita. It is here that he encounters the greatest temptation of his life, beautiful Lucrezia Buti, who has been driven to holy orders more by poverty than piety. In Lucrezia's flawless face Lippi sees the inspiration for countless Madonnas and he brings the young woman to his studio to serve as his model. But as painter and muse are united in an exhilarating whirl of artistic discovery, a passionate love develops, one that threatens to destroy them both even as it fuels some of Lippi's greatest work.

About the Author

Laurie Albanese is the author of the novel Lynelle by the Sea and the memoir Blue Suburbia, which was named a Book Sense Best Book of the Year and was an Entertainment Weekly Editor's Choice selection.

Praise for The Miracles of Prato…

“Like Fra Filippo’s paintings, this love story, set in one of the most intriguing historical periods, is suffused with clear, warm color and fine attention to detail.” -Debra Dean, author of The Madonnas of Leningrad

“This novel based on the life of Fra Filippo Lippi will be lapped up by fans of historical romance.” -Publishers Weekly on MIRACLES OF PRATO

“The Miracles of Prato is a time machine, taking the reader back to the height of the Italian Renaissance, revealing a world of childlike innocence and illicit passion, harsh injustice and saintly miracles, and wafting around it all like rare perfume, the creation of art for the glory of God.” -Eleanor Herman, author of Mistress of the Vatican, on MIRACLES OF PRATO

“A richly detailed and thoroughly engrossing story told with equal measures of ardor, tenderness, and compassion, THE MIRACLES OF PRATO offers a poignant portrayal of the heartbreak of two people caught in the Church’s grip during the Italian Renaissance.” -Judith Lindbergh, author of The Thrall’s Tale, on MIRACLES OF PRATO